South Florida Zika investigation ongoing: CDC arrives

In a follow up to the news on the investigation on the possible non-travel related cases of Zika virus in the south Florida counties of Miami-Dadeand Broward, the Florida Department of Health (DOH) reports the investigations are ongoing and the department will share more details as they become available. To date, approximately 200 people have been interviewed and tested as part of the department’s investigations and we await additional lab results.

Aedes aegypti/CDC

Dr. Marc Fischer, medical epidemiologist with CDC arrived in Florida today to assist in our investigation with mapping and testing methodology. The department is conducting door-to-door outreach with mosquito control in the areas surrounding the residences, work places and frequently visited locations of both suspect cases.

Residents and visitors are urged to participate in requests for blood and urine samples by the department in the areas of investigation. These results will help the department determine the number of people affected.

Zika prevention kits and repellent are being distributed in the areas of investigation, through local OBGYN offices and at both DOH-Broward and DOH-Miami-Dade.

In addition, DOH reported there are 19 new travel-related cases of Zika with three in Orange, two in Hillsborough, two in Osceola, two in Seminole, two in Volusia, one in Broward, one in Miami-Dade, one in Okeechobee, one in Palm Beach, one in Pasco, one in Polk, one in St. Johns and one involving a pregnant women.

The Declaration of Public Health Emergency has been amended to include Okeechobee County, bringing the total counties affected to 29.

On Wednesday, President Barack Obama spoke to Florida Gov. Rick Scott regarding the suspected case of mosquito transmission of Zika in Miami-Dade, which would be the first local transmission of Zika in the continental US, noting during the call that in addition to the $2 million that CDC has provided to Florida for Zika preparedness, CDC is anticipating it will award Florida $5.6 million in Zika funding through a CDC grant to be awarded this week.